Best Coffee Pod Machine: What's New? No One Is Talking About
Best Coffee Pod Machine: What's New? No One Is Talking About
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in only 30 seconds or less. But they come at some cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that you can find, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it easy to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chance of a drink coming out badly wrong. It is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those who want to reduce their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. Its only downside is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once this happens it can brew a cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The most effective models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same mechanism to brew a cup of coffee: water is heated inside reservoirs, then moved through capsules to make rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on a number of models to streamline the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll deal with the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses new capsules once the previous one has been chilled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who want to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your counter and it opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine has a water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and brews regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to use with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the opening where you drop in your pod. It requires a little force to close but our testers, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers pod coffee makers take the mess of making coffee out of your hands. You simply load in one of the pods, press a button and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time but not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts, so they can fit on the counter and be stored out of sight when not being used.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
Most people will think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are some newer rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode, which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This approach means the machine eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those who want something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a excellent example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly satisfying to operate the lungo is made in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
The lack of flexibility is one of the main reasons it may not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk into your coffee. For many people this won't be a problem, but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the correct amount of coffee for the particular type of pod. It's an easy-to-use and hands-off machine that does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, however others will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are looking for.
Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected into a concealed receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style range. It's easy to use with a simple panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only downside is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is an inconvenience. You'll also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. However, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at an affordable cost. If you're looking for some variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is available for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.